John Hancock was born in Quincy, Massachusetts,
on January 12, 1737 and died there October 8, 1793. Hancock received a
privileged childhood education and was admitted to Harvard graduating in 1754.
Upon the death of his father, John Hancock was adopted by his uncle, Thomas, who
employed him at the Hancock counting-house. Upon his Uncle’s death John Hancock
inherited the thriving business as well as a sizable fortune which some scholars
claim was amassed during the French and Indian War.

On November 1, 1765, in an effort to recoup loss
revenues due to the war, the British Parliament, imposed a direct tax on the
American Colonies. This tax was to be paid directly to King George III to
replenish the royal treasuries coffers emptied by his father during the height
of the 7 Years War. Under the British Stamp Act, all printed materials including
broad­sides, newspapers, pamphlets, bills, legal documents, licenses, almanacs,
dice and playing cards, were required to carry a revenue stamp. Americans who
for 160 years faithfully paid taxes to their respective colonial governments
were, for the first time, expected to pay this additional tax direct­ly to Great
Britain.

The colonists, in opposition to King and
Parliament, convened the Stamp Act Congress in New York City on October 19,
1765. They passed a resolution which made “the following declarations of
our humble opinion, respecting the most essential rights and liberties Of the
colonists, and of the grievances under which they labour, by reason of several
late Acts of Parliament” calling on King George III to repeal the Act.. The
Act was repealed on March 18, 1766 but it was replaced with the Declaratory
Act. This Act asserted that the British government had absolute authority over
the American colonies which further divided the two political systems.

In that same
year Hancock was chosen to represent Boston in the Massachusetts House of
Representatives with James Otis, Thomas Cushing, and Samuel Adams. In the
House, Eliot says of Hancock, that "he blazed a Whig of the first magnitude"
defying the taxes of the British Empire. The seizure of Hancock’s sloop, the
"Liberty," for an alleged evasion of the laws of trade, caused a riot in
Massachusetts, with the royal commissioners of customs barely escaping with
their lives.

In 1767, in
another attempt to obtain revenue from the colonies, the Townshend Revenue Acts
were passed by Parliament, taxing imported paper, tea, glass, lead and paints.
In February of 1768, Samuel Adams and James Otis drafted and the Massachusetts
Assembly adopted a circular letter to be sent to the other American Assemblies
protesting these taxes. They expressed the hope that redress could be obtained
through petitions to King George III. The letter called for a convention to
thrash outthe issue of taxation without
representation and issue a unified address to the Crown. The British government,
however, provoked a confrontation by ordering the Massachusetts Assembly to
rescind the letter and ordered Governor Bernard to dismiss the assembly if they
refused.

In protest to
this and other British laws, John Hancock and other Selectman called for a
state­wide “town meeting” at Faneuil Hall on September 23, 1768.. 96
towns answered Hancock’s call to address taxation and self-government grievances
against the British Crown n September 28th. The circular produced by Hancock
calling for the meeting read:

Image Courtesy of Seth Kaller

“YOU are already too well acquainted with the _hreatenin [sic] and very
alarming Circumstances to which this Province, as well as America in general, is
now reduced. Taxes equally detrimental to the Commercial interests of the Parent
Country and her Colonies, are imposed upon the People, without their Consent; -
Taxes designed for the Support of the Civil Government in the Colonies, in a
Manner clearly unconstitu­tional, and contrary to that, in which ‘till of late,
Government has been supported, by the free Gift of the People in the American
Assemblies or Parliaments; as also for the Maintenance of a large Standing Army;
not for the Defence [sic] of the newly acquired Territories, but for the old
Colonies, and in a Time of Peace. The decent, humble and truly loyal
Applications and Petitions from the Representatives of this Province for the
Redress of these heavy and very _hreatening [sic] Grievances, have hitherto been
ineffectual…The only Effect…has been a Mandate…to Dissolve the General Assembly,
merely because the late House of Representatives refused to Rescind a Resolution
of a former House, which imply’d nothing more than a Right in the American
Subjects to unite in humble and dutiful Petitions to their gracious Sovereign,
when they found themselves aggrieved…

“The Concern and Perplexity into which these Things have thrown the People,
have been greatly aggravated, by a late Declaration of his Excellency Governor
BERNARD, that one or more Regiments may soon be expected in this Province…

“Deprived of the Councils of a General Assembly in this dark and difficult
Season, the loyal People of this Province, will, we are persuaded, immediately
perceive the Propriety and Utility of the proposed Committee of Convention…”.

Signed “John
Hancock,” also signed “Joseph Jackson,” “John Ruddock,” “John Rowe,” and
“Samuel Pemberton” as Selectmen of Boston.”

This particular Hancock document had
a demonstrable effect, “it changed the world,” as the governor called for
British reinforcements. Hancock’s convention composed a list of grievances,
passed several resolutions, and adjourned. Two days later, royal transports
unloaded British troops at the Long Wharf and began a military occupation of
Boston that would last until March 17, 1776. It was the beginning of the end of
British Colonialism in America.

In response to
the affray known as the "Boston Massacre," on March 5th, 1770 Hancock, at
the funeral of the slain Bostonians, delivered an address to the mourning
citizens. So radiant and fear­less was the speech in its condemnation of the
conduct of the soldiery and their leaders that it greatly offended the Colonial
Governor. Hancock's speech was printed in key American newspa­pers broadening
his notoriety throughout the colonies.

In 1774 Hancock
was elected, with Samuel Adams, to the Provincial congress at Concord,
Massachusetts, and he subsequently became its president. The commanding General
ordered a military expedition to Concord in April, 1775 to capture these Hancock
and Adams. This mili­tary movement resulted in the Battle of Lexington. The
British's arrival on April 18, 1775 forced Joseph Warren to call out the
"Minute Men". Upon learning of the British plans to capture Hancock and
Adams, Warren dispatched Paul Revere who wrote "About 10 o'clock, Dr. Warren
Sent in a great haste for me, and begged that I would immediately Set off for
Lexington, where Messrs. Hancock and Adams were..."

Revere was
rowed across the Charles River to Charlestown by two friends where he checked
first with members of the Sons of Liberty that Warren's call to arms Old Church
signals had been seen. Revere then borrowed a horse from Deacon Larkin and began
his famous ride. Revere reported on his ride north along the Mystic River, "I
awakened the Captain of the minute men; and after that I alarmed almost every
house till I got to Lexington. I found Messrs. Hancock and Adams at the Rev. Mr.
Clark's; I told them my errand ..." . Revere then helped Adams and Hancock
escape, and at 4:30am he wrote that "Mr Lowell asked me to go to the Tavern
with him, to git a Trunk of papers belonging to Mr. Hancock. We went up Chamber;
and while we were giting the Trunk, we saw the British very near, upon a full
March." It was at that time, while collecting the trunk that Revere recalls
hearing "The shot heard 'round the world" on the Lexington Green. Revere
wrote,

"When we got about 100 Yards from the meeting-House the British Troops
appeared on both Sides... I saw and heard a Gun fired... Then I could
distinguish two Guns, and then a Continual roar of Musquetry; Then we made off
with the Trunk.".

Hancock and
Adams both escaped with their lives.

Following the
April battles at Lexington and Concord, the British soldiers returned to Boston
quar­tering the community. On 12 June, General Gage issued a proclamation
offering pardons to all the rebels, excepting Samuel Adams and John Hancock,
"whose offences," it was declared, "are of too flagitious a nature to admit of
any other consideration than that of condign punishment."

On June 16th
Colonel William Prescott was ordered onto the Charlestown Peninsula to occupy
Bunker Hill to defy the British occupation of Boston. For reasons that are still
not entirely clear, the colonists took possession of neighboring Breed's Hill
and constructed defense fortifications. General William Howe quickly assembled a
force of 3,000 soldiers to the foot of the American position. Two uphill
assaults were launched and repulsed by Colonel Prescott who reputedly cau­tioned
his men "not to fire until they saw the whites of their eyes." The
assaults resulted in heavy losses for the British forcing Howe to call for 400
additional soldiers.

The British
third charge caught the Americans low on powder and unable to resist the
over­whelming numbers of fixed British bayonets. Prescott ordered the retreat
down the north slope of Breed's Hill. Many were shot in the back during this
escape across the Neck. A key causality was Dr. Joseph Warren, who was among the
last to leave his position. He was killed instantly by a mus­ket ball in the
back of his head. His death provided a political vacuum that John Hancock would
fill leading to a U.S. founding prominence second only to George Washington.

Mr. Hancock was
a delegate from Massachusetts to the Continental Congress from 1775 until 1780,
and from 1785 until 1786, serving as President of that body from May 25, 1775
until October 1777. The 2nd Continental Congress opened on May 10, 1775 with
Peyton Randolph serving as President. As in 1774 Randolph was called to Virginia
for a Burgesses session and forced to abandon his presiding chair. Henry
Middleton declined to serve as President a second time due to ill health. Samuel
Adams and his cousin John Adams champion the cause of their wealthy benefactor
John Hancock who was elected President on May 25th, 1775. The Adam’s regretted
their decision because Hancock aligned himself with delegates who were, at best,
tepid in the cause of independence. Additionally Hancock used his office in an
opulent fashion much to the disappointment of his Massachusetts Colleagues.
Moreover, when Randolph returned to Congress Hancock made no overture to
surrender the Presidency, despite many delegates charg­ing his election was only
to serve during Randolph’s absence.

The Hancock
presidency was most eventual starting with a July 6, 1775 resolution,
"Declaration of the Causes and Necessities of Taking Up Arms," that rejected
independence but asserted that Americans were ready to die rather than be
enslaved. In this resolution Congress openly invoked their Christian God
stating:

“Our cause is just. Our union is perfect. Our internal resources are great,
and, if nec­essary, foreign assistance is undoubtedly attainable. -- We
gratefully acknowledge, as signal instances of the Divine favour towards us,
that his Providence would not per­mit us to be called into this severe
controversy, until we were grown up to our present strength, had been previously
exercised in warlike operation, and possessed of the means of defending
ourselves. With hearts fortified with these animating reflections, we most
solemnly, before God and the world, declare, that, exerting the utmost ener­gy
of those powers, which our beneficent Creator hath graciously bestowed upon us,
the arms we have been compelled by our enemies to assume, we will, in defiance
of every hazard, with unabating firmness and perseverence, employ for the
preservation of our liberties; being with one mind resolved to die freemen
rather than to live slaves.”

On June 14,
debate opens in Congress on the appointment of a commander-in-chief of
Continental forces. John Hancock made it known to all the delegates that he
wanted the high office and as President expects to be nominated. He is
surprised when his fellow Massachusetts delegate, John Adams, moves to appoint
George Washington suggesting he had the military experience necessary to wage
war and character around which all the colonies might unite.On June 17th, 1775
the Continental Congress passed the following resolution appointing George
Washington as Commander-In-Chief:

Resolved unanimously upon the question, Whereas, the delegates of all
the colonies, from Nova-Scotia to Georgia, in Congress assembled, have
unanimously chosen George Washington, Esq. to be General and commander in
chief, of such forces as are, or shall be, raised for the maintenance and
preservation of American liberty; this Congress doth now declare, that they
will maintain and assist him, and adhere to him, the said George Washington,
Esqr., with their lives and fortunes in the same cause.

John Adams
wrote his wife this concerning the appointment:

I can now
inform you that the Congress have made Choice of the modest and virtuous, the
amiable, generous and brave George Washington Esqr., to be the General of the
American Army, and that he is to repair as soon as possible to the Camp before
Boston.

George Washington's Commission signed
by President John Hancock - Image Courtesy of George
Washington Papers at the Library of Congress

On July 26,
1775 John Hancock's Continental Congress established the Colonial Post office
with this resolution:

“That a postmaster General be appointed for the United Colonies, who shall
hold his office at Philadelphia, and shall be allowed a salary of 1000 dollars
per annum for himself, and 340 dollars per annum for a secretary and
Comptroller, with power to appoint such, and so many deputies as to him may seem
proper and necessary.

That a line of posts be appointed under the direction of the Postmaster
general, from Falmouth in New England to Savannah in Georgia, with as many cross
posts as he shall think fit.

That the allowance to the deputies in lieu of salary and all contingent
expenses, shall be 20% on the sums they collect and pay into the General post
office annually, when the whole is under or not exceeding 1000 Dollars, and 10%
for all sums above 1000 dollars a year.

That the rates of postage shall be 20% less than those appointed by act of
Parliament1. That the several deputies account quarterly with the general post
office, and the postmaster general annually with the continental treasurers,
when he shall pay into the receipt of the Sd Treasurers, the profits of the Post
Office; and if the nec­essary expense of this establishment should exceed the
produce of it, the deficiency shall be made good by the United Colonies, and
paid to the postmaster general by the continental Treasure.

The Congress then proceeded to the election of a postmaster general for one
year, and until another is appointed by a future Congress, when Benjamin
Franklin, Esquire was unanimously chosen.”

In November of
1775 Congress established both the Continental Marines and Navy on the news of
Continental Army’s Victory in Montreal. December of 1775 brought the disastrous
news that Generals Richard Montgomery and Arnold's attack on the key to Canada,
Quebec City failed. General Montgomery was killed and Benedict Arnold was forced
to make a hasty retreat into New York. This loss put a great strain on troops
and resources while shifting the main thrust of the war back to the Colonies.

On January
16th, 1776 the Continental Congress approved the enlistment of "free negroes."
This led to the establishment of the First Rhode Island Regiment, composed
of 33 free-negroes and 92 slaves. The regiment distinguished itself at the
Battle of Newport and the slaves were freed at the end of the war. Also in
January Thomas Paine publishes "Common Sense", which was a con­temptuous
attack on King George III's reign over the colonies. Paine's work united many
Americans in the Revolutionary Cause by successfully arguing that the Colonists
now had a moral obligation to reject monarchy.

Paine's first
edition sold out quickly and within three months, it is estimated that over
120,000 copies had been printed. Signer Benjamin Rush recalled that

"Its effects were sudden and exten­sive upon the American mind.. It was read
by public men, repeated in clubs, spouted in Schools, and in one instance,
delivered from the pulpit instead of a sermon by a clergyman in Connecticut.."

Thework
so inspired George Washington that he swept away all remaining allegiance to
King George III declaring that Common Sense offered "...sound doctrine
and unanswerable rea­soning." for independence.

Paine's
provocative pamphlet was translated into French and appeared first in Quebec.
John Adams wrote that "Common Sense was received in France and in all Europe
with Rapture.” Common Sense was translated into German, Danish, and Russia.
It was estimated that over 500,000 copies were sold during the initial years of
the Revolutionary War.

John Hancock's
Congress capitalized on this ground swell of Paine Patriotism by invocating the
aid of God in this moral cause for independence. This time the name of Jesus
Christ was actual­ly included in the official congressional resolution passed on
March 16th, 1776. This proclama­tion signed by President Hancock set May 17,
1776:

"Day of Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer" throughout the colonies. The
Continental Congress urged its fellow citizens to "confess and bewail our
manifold sins and transgressions, and by a sincere repentance and amendment of
life, appease his [God's] righteous displeasure, and through the merits and
mediation of Jesus Christ, obtain his pardon and forgiveness."

The
Colony of Massachusetts followed suit almost immediately ordering a "suitable
number" of these proclamations to be printed so "that each of the
religious Assemblies in this Colony, may be furnished with a Copy of the same"
and added the motto "God Save This People" as a substitute for
"God Save the King."

Common Sense
changed the political climate in America as the pamphlet ignited debates
where the people spoke openly and often for independence. The Second Continental
Congress would take to heart Paine's suggestion::

“To conclude:
However strange it may appear to some, or however unwilling they may be to think
so, matters not, but many strong and striking reasons may be given, to show,
that nothing can settle our affairs so expeditiously as an open and determined
declaration for independence.”

Common Sense
was expertly peppered with evocations to Almighty God and biblical quotes that
theologically makes a case for Independence from Great Britain. Clearly, the Day
of Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer resolution passed by Congress in the Spring
of 1776 draws strongly from the popular Judeo-Christian verbiage in Paine's best
selling pamphlet..

Specifically
the 1776 Journals of Congress record the resolution as:

Mr. W[illiam] Livingston, pursuant to leave granted, brought in a resolution
for appointing a fast, which & par being taken into consideration, ∥ was
agreed to as follows:

In times of impending calamity and distress; when the liberties of America
are immi­nently endangered by the secret machinations and open assaults of an
insidious and vindictive administration, it becomes the indispensable duty of
these hitherto free and happy colonies, with true penitence of heart, and the
most reverent devotion, publick­ly to acknowledge the over ruling providence of
God; to confess and deplore our offences against him; and to supplicate his
interposition for averting the threatened danger, and prospering our strenuous
efforts in the cause of freedom, virtue, and pos­terity.

The
Congress, therefore, considering the warlike preparations of the British
Ministry to subvert our invaluable rights and priviledges, and to reduce us by
fire and sword, by the savages of the wilderness, and our own domestics, to the
most abject and igno­minious bondage: Desirous, at the same time, to have people
of all ranks and degrees duly impressed with a solemn sense of God's super
intending providence, and of their duty, devoutly to rely, in all their lawful
enterprizes, on his aid and direction, Do earnestly recommend, that Friday, the
Seventeenth day of May next, be observed by the said colonies as a day of
humiliation, fasting, and prayer; that we may, with unit­ed hearts, confess and
bewail our manifold sins and transgressions, and, by a sincere repentance and
amendment of life, appease his righteous displeasure, and, through the merits
and mediation of Jesus Christ, obtain his pardon and forgiveness; humbly
imploring his assistance to frustrate the cruel purposes of our unnatural
enemies; and by inclining their hearts to justice and benevolence, prevent the
further effusion of kin­dred blood. But if, continuing deaf to the voice of
reason and humanity, and inflexi­bly bent, on desolation and war, they constrain
us to repel their hostile invasions by open resistance, that it may please the
Lord of Hosts, the God of Armies, to animate our officers and soldiers with
invincible fortitude, to guard and protect them in the day of battle, and to
crown the continental arms, by sea and land, with victory and suc­cess:
Earnestly beseeching him to bless our civil rulers, and the representatives of
the people, in their several assemblies and conventions; to preserve and
strengthen their union, to inspire them with an ardent, disinterested love of
their country; to give wis­dom and stability to their counsels; and direct them
to the most efficacious measures for establishing the rights of America on the
most honourable and permanent basis--That he would be graciously pleased to
bless all his people in these colonies with health and plenty, and grant that a
spirit of incorruptible patriotism, and of pure unde­filed religion, may
universally prevail; and this continent be speedily restored to the blessings of
peace and liberty, and enabled to transmit them inviolate to the latest
posterity. And it is recommended to Christians of all denominations, to assemble
for public worship, and abstain from servile labour on the said day.

Resolved, That
the foregoing resolve be published.
John Hanock, President
Charles Thomson, Secretary

This proclamation was printed in
full in the Pennsylvania Gazette, 20 March, 1776. There were many more 1776
events in Hancock's Congress that are noteworthy in the march towards
Independence but all are reduced to historical footnotes due to Richard Henry
Lee's June resolution and Thomas Jefferson's pen of independence. Despite his
attempts to thwart revolution, John Hancock was caught up in the "Common
Sense" fervor and ended-up presiding over the Continental Congress who would
vote to abolish all ties with Great Britain.

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